News from the field |
IAN & MARGARET FORSYTH - BCA PORT
HEDLAND, |
| Dear
Friends, Last month, when we should have been writing a newsletter, we had cyclone "Gwenda" bearing down on us. On the Tuesday night it was heading for Karratha, but when we woke it was heading straight for Port Hedland and was a category 4! (Not as bad as "Vance" who hit Exmouth a couple of weeks before, but still very destructive – about as bad as "Tracy" that struck Darwin in 1974). We spent the day securing all loose material on the property, and packing up our prized possessions as best we could, and storing them in the most waterproof containers and in the safest possible locations. As the day progressed we learned that it would arrive over Port Hedland at about 10pm. At about 7pm we had some friends from Newman, who had been holidaying at 80-mile beach, and had been told to get out, arrive on our doorstep for safety. They put their three girls to bed and then we sat in the lounge to "watch and pray". At 9pm we heard it was downgraded to category 3, and at 10pm, to a category 2 and was going to cross the coast about 30kms north east of us about midnight. The parents and Margaret went to bed about 11pm, and I stayed up to mop water that was coming under some hopper windows. All in all, it was a bit of a fizzer, but we did lose a bougainvillea and another shrub to the winds. But one thing we learned, was the power of prayer, because many people had contacted us and told us that they were praying for us. Had it been a Category 4 that came over Port Hedland we are pretty sure we would have lost the rectory, considering its age and the houses that were damaged in Exmouth, so thank you all for your prayers. The next most interesting item of news, is what we will be doing next year. Our four year appointment to this parish is up at the end of 1999, and we have indicated to the Bishop and to the Bush Church Aid Society who sponsors our being in Port Hedland, that we will not be wanting to extend our time here, and have asked them both to seek an alternative placement for us for 2000 and onwards. Of course we would like it to be closer to our family in Sydney, but we are willing to consider any offers we might receive. Please pray with us over this, because it will mean more big changes and, if we are not offered anything a return to Sydney, which means looking for a new home, etc. On the home front, things are going pretty steadily. Last week we attended an archdeaconry day at Paraburdoo, and on the Saturday morning Rev. Joe Sullivan was inducted as the new rector of Paraburdoo/Tom Price. Joe has worked in secular jobs in the Pilbara, but since ordination has worked in the Diocese of Perth. Please pray for him and his wife Jeanette, as they commence this new aspect of ministry. This coming weekend we will be having a Parish Camp at Eighty-Mile Beach, some 250kms north east of Port Hedland. There are about 30 people coming, which is good. Malcolm is organising some studies on the church, and our part in the community of the church. Looks good. Please pray for all who attend, for safety in travel, and for a good learning experience over an enjoyable weekend. There are quite a few things for prayer in this newsletter, so please pray for and with us for a new appointment, and for our parishioners as they move on in their faith. Ian and Margaret Forsyth |
Copyright © 2000 Bush Church Aid Society of Australia |